On parametric evolution inclusions of the subdifferential type with applications to optimal control problems

Abstract

In this paper we study parametric evolution inclusions of the subdifferential type and their applications to the sensitivity analysis of nonlinear, infinite dimensional optimal control problems. The parameter appears in all the data of the problem, including the subdifferential operator. First we establish several continuity results for the solution multifunction of the subdifferential inclusion. Then we study how these results can be used to examine the sensitivity properties (variational stability) of certain broad classes of nonlinear infinite dimensional optimal control problems. Some examples are worked out in detail, illustrating the applicability of our work. These include obstacle problems (with time varying obstacles), optimal control of distributed parameter systems, and differential variational inequalities.